Neva

Almost six years after the visually stunning and emotionally gripping Gris, Nomada Studio is once again working with Devolver Digital on its second game, Neva. However, the studio is not only relying on proven concepts. New features compared to Gris are combat and an evolving bond with a wolf.

Neva is only the second game from Nomada Studio in Barcelona. Founded in 2016, the studio's website explains: "After a few years spread around the world making AAA games and interactive experiences, long time friends Adrián Cuevas and Roger Mendoza met artist Conrad Roset back home in Barcelona who (...) had an itch for bringing his art to the realm of videogames for a long time". Their debut game was Gris, also published by Devolver Digital in December 2018. The game attracted attention not only for its unique art style, but also for telling a touching story about a painful experience without neglecting gameplay ideas, free of danger, frustration or death. Gris has received high praise from the international press and a 96 per cent positive user rating on Steam (n=64,940). It has now sold over three million copies worldwide across all platforms.

"We're thrilled to share that Gris has sold over 3 million copies worldwide across all platforms! We couldn’t have asked for a better reception for our first project - not even in our wildest dreams did we imagine Gris would resonate with so many people." - Nomada Studio

Almost six years on from Gris, the Spanish studio is looking to build on its success by relying on the tried and tested ingredients, most notably a unique art style that uses traditional animation to conjure up enchantingly beautiful landscapes. Neva tells the story of Alba, a young woman who is bound to a curious wolf cub after a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together, they embark on a journey through a once beautiful world that is slowly decaying around them. The adventure through a dying world blends platforming, puzzles, exploration and combat. The latter is a new addition to the original Gris, which was completely devoid of combat. The relationship with the wolf deepens as the game progresses, as the two learn to work together and help each other. The wolf will grow from a rebellious cub to an imposing adult trying to forge her own identity, testing Alba's love and commitment to each other. Like Gris, Neva features a minimalist UI  and an original soundtrack by Berlinist, also from Barcelona.

The development of Neva has received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sport "Aid for the promotion of the video game sector, podcasts and other forms of digital creation, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan" - (in Spanish: "Ayudas para la promoción del sector del videojuego, del pódcast y otras formas de creación digital, en el marco del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resilencia").

Neva will be released digitally on 15 October for PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X|S at a price of 19.99 Euros.

Conclusion

After Gris, Nomada Studios and Devolver Digital once again demonstrate what a gripping and touching adventure can look like - and once again with a unique art style.

Features

• Unique, stunning art style
• Emotional story
• Proven gameplay mix, but this time with combat elements